Plug-in lock

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a plug-in lock for the detachable connection of two belt ends for a climbing harness having a lock part and an insertion part, wherein the lock part has an end on the insertion side for inserting the insertion part, and an end on the belt side for fastening a belt, wherein the insertion part has a snap-in pin, which engages into a first latch mechanism in the lock part upon inserting the insertion part into the lock part such that the insertion part is secured against being pulled out of the lock part (in the direction opposite of the insertion direction in the lock part. The first latch mechanism is configured manually non-detachable, and a second manually detachable latch mechanism is arranged and configured such that the insertion part can be detached from the lock part by sliding out the same in the insertion direction.

This application is a National stage application based on PCT/EP2007/007837, filed Sep. 7, 2007, and which claims priority to German patent application No. DE 20 2006 016 188.0, filed Oct. 23, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a plug-in lock for the releasable connection of two belt ends, in particular for a climbing harness, safety belt or life belt, having a lock part and a plug-in part, wherein the lock part has a plug-in end, into which the plug-in part can be plugged, and a belt end, for fastening a belt, wherein the plug-in part has a latching tongue which, when the plug-in part is plugged into the lock part in a plug-in direction, latches with a first latching mechanism in the lock part such that the plug-in part is locked in the lock part against being pulled out of the lock part counter to the plug-in direction, and wherein the plug-in direction is oriented from the plug-in end of the lock part in the direction of the belt end of the lock part, according to the claims.

2. Description of Related Art

Plug-in closures for belts and straps are known, for example, from the automotive sector. In the case of harnesses, the closures have to be designed such that they do not open unintentionally during use. This is achieved, for example, by two buttons having to be actuated simultaneously for opening purposes. Such a plug-in lock is known, for example, from DE 196 47 631 A1. In order to make the connection, a plug-in part is plugged into a lock part, latching elements being provided in order to make a latching connection between the plug-in part and the lock part. Two actuating elements are provided, and these move corresponding latching elements into a disengagement position and have to be pushed in simultaneously in order to release the plug-in part from the lock part. It is characteristic of plug-in locks here that, for release purposes, the plug-in part is pulled out of the lock part in the direction counter to that in which it is plugged into the lock part. Although, under loading, a relatively large force is necessary in order for the latching elements to be moved into the disengagement position by means of the actuating elements, it is not completely out of the question for the plug-in lock to open unintentionally if the actuating elements are subjected to an appropriately large force.

An alternative to this, with a higher level of reliability against unintentional opening, is provided by closures in which a hook-in part is hooked into the lock part. Such a hook-in lock is known from U.S. Pat. No. 6 802 109 B2. The special feature resides in the fact that hooking in takes place in the same direction in which the lock parts are subjected to force during use. The force to which the lock parts are subjected thus always pulls the lock in the closing direction. For opening purposes, or in order to release the hook-in part from the lock part, it is necessary to actuate an unlocking means and to move the hook-in part relative to the lock part counter to the hooking-in direction.

DE 20 2004 017 043 U1 discloses a lock for climbing harnesses in which the locking mechanism is designed with two actuating elements for releasing the locking means such that the actuating elements cannot be pushed into the release position when the lock is subjected to a force in the direction counter to the plug-in direction. However, intended release or opening of the lock is a laborious task to perform since, for this purpose, the lock part and the plug-in part have to be retained in relation to one another and, at the same time, the two actuating elements have to be pushed in.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to improve a plug-in lock of the above-mentioned type in respect of functional reliability and ease of use. In particular, it is intended to improve the safeguarding against unintentional opening of the plug-in lock.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a plug-in lock of the above-mentioned type having the features characterized in claim 1. Advantageous configurations of the invention are described in the rest of the claims.

The invention will be explained in more detail hereinbelow with reference to the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a plug-in lock in the open state, and

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view, in detail form, of a plug-in part of the plug-in lock according to FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the case of a plug-in lock of the above-mentioned type, it is provided according to the invention that the first latching mechanism is designed such that it cannot be released manually once the plug-in part and lock part have been latched in, and a second, manually releasable latching mechanism is arranged in the lock part and designed such that this second latching mechanism, in a locked state, blocks the plug-in part which has been plugged into the lock part from moving relative to the lock part in the plug-in direction and, in an unlocked state, allows the plug-in part which has been plugged into the lock part to move relative to the lock part in the plug-in direction, in which case the plug-in part can be released from the lock part by being pushed out in the plug-in direction.

This has the advantage, that despite the connection between the plug-in part and lock part easily being made by the plug-in part being plugged straightforwardly into the lock part, it is not possible for the plug-in part to be released under loading counter to the plug-in direction, in which case unintentional opening of the plug-in lock under loading is effectively avoided. At the same time, provision is made for the plug-in part and lock part to be released as in the case of a hook-in lock. The novel plug-in lock thus combines the advantages of a plug-in lock, namely the quick and straightforward closure of the lock by plugging in in the plug-in direction, with the advantages of a hook-in lock, namely the complete avoidance of the situation where the plug-in part and lock part are released counter to the plug-in direction under loading, without the disadvantage of the more laborious hooking-in operation, as in the case of a hook-in lock, having to be accepted.

In a preferred embodiment, the first latching mechanism has at least one latching nose arranged on the latching tongue, in particular two such latching noses, and the latching nose can be pivoted in each case about a pivot pin, wherein the latching nose is forced in the direction of a locking position by an elastic pre-stressing force and can be deflected in an elastically resilient manner out of this locking position by being pivoted about the respective pivot pin counter to the pre-stressing force, and wherein a rigid latching hook is designed and arranged on the lock part for each latching nose such that, once the plug-in part has been plugged into the lock part, a respective latching nose interacting with an associated latching hook makes a latching connection.

Automatic deflection of the latching nose counter to the elastic pre-stressing force when the plug-in part is plugged into the lock part is achieved by the latching nose having a respective oblique surface which rises up in the direction counter to the plug-in direction.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, two latching noses are arranged on the plug-in part and two latching hooks are arranged on the lock part, wherein the two latching hooks are designed as respective U-shaped elevations at the plug-in end of the lock part.

In order to provide sufficient clearance for the plug-in part when it is pushed out of the lock part in the plug-in direction, a respective leg of the U-shaped elevations has a free end, wherein the legs of the U-shaped elevations with a free end are spaced apart from one another such that a spacing between these legs of the U-shaped elevations is greater than or equal to a width of the latching tongue of the plug-in part.

The plug-in part is plugged into the lock part without either tilting in relation to the other in that the latching tongue has an elevation running parallel to the plug-in direction and the lock part has a groove running parallel to the plug-in direction, wherein the elevation and the groove are arranged and designed such that, when the plug-in part is plugged into the lock part, the elevation engages in the groove and thus guides the plug-in part relative to the lock part.

For automatic locking of the second latching mechanism, the second latching mechanism is forced in the direction of the locking position by an elastic spring pre-stressing force. The second latching mechanism is arranged and designed here such that it can be moved manually into the unlocked state counter to the elastic spring pre-stressing force.

The preferred embodiment of a plug-in lock according to the invention which is illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a lock part 10 and a plug-in part 12, which is designed for plugging into the lock part 10 and has a latching tongue 14.

The lock part 10 comprises a punched and bent part 16, a plastic housing 18, a plug-in end 20, into which the plug-in part 12 can be plugged, and a belt end 22, which has a belt opening 24 for fastening a belt (not illustrated). A plug-in direction 36, i.e. a direction in which the plug-in part 12 is plugged into the lock part 10, is directed from the plug-in end 20 of the lock part 10 in the direction of the belt end 22 of the lock part 10.

The plug-in part 12 comprises a belt opening 26 with belt-securing means 27 and also punched parts 28 and latching noses 30, which are arranged opposite one another on the latching tongue 14 and can be pivoted toward one another in each case, about a pivot pin 32, out of a locking position, which is illustrated in FIG. 1, counter to an elastic spring force. Each latching nose 30 has an oblique surface 34 which rises up in the direction counter to the plug-in direction 36, i.e. such that it increasingly projects beyond the width of the latching tongue 14.

In order to guide the plug-in part 12 as it is plugged into the lock part 10, the plug-in part 12 has an elevation 38 running parallel to the plug-in direction 35 and the lock part 10 has a guide groove 40, wherein, when the plug-in part 12 is plugged into the lock part 10, the elevation 38 engages in the guide groove 40 and guides the plug-in part 12 relative to the lock part 10.

Two U-shaped elevations 42, each with a respective free leg 44, are formed at the plug-in end 20 of the lock part 10. The U-shaped elevations 42 are arranged and designed such that, when the plug-in part 12 is plugged into the lock part 10, they act, in the first instance, on the oblique surfaces 34 and thus pivot the latching noses 30 about the pivot pins 32. As soon as the latching noses 30 have passed the U-shaped elevations 42, they spring back, under the action of the elastic spring force, into the latching position illustrated in the figure and latch into the U-shaped elevations 42. In other words, the latching noses 30 and the U-shaped elevations 42 interact so as to prevent the plug-in part 12 from being unplugged from, or pulled out of, the lock part 10 in the direction counter to the plug-in direction 36.

The first latching mechanism, which is made of the latching noses 30 and U-shaped elevations 42, thus secures the plug-in part 12 in the lock part 10, wherein there are no release means provided in order to release the latching between the latching noses 30 and the U-shaped elevations 42. It is not possible for the plug-in part 12 to be unplugged from, or pulled out of, the lock part 10 in the direction counter to the plug-in direction 36. Consequently, it is also the case that unintentional release of the plug-in part 12 from the lock part 10 in the direction counter to the plug-in direction 36 is always ruled out.

According to the invention, a second latching mechanism 46 is additionally provided on the lock part 10, and this second latching mechanism, in a latching position or locking position, prevents the plug-in part 12 which has been plugged into the lock part 10 from moving relative to the lock part in the plug-in direction 36, in which case the plug-in part 12 is fixed to the lock part 10. The second latching mechanism 46 is designed and arranged such that, in a release position or unlocking position it allows the plug-in part 12 which has been plugged into the lock part 10 to move relative to the lock part in the plug-in direction 36. At the same time, the clearance formed between the free legs 44 of the U-shaped elevations 42 is sufficient to allow the latching tongue 14 to pass through this clearance. Consequently, upon adjustment of the second latching mechanism 46 into the release position, it is possible for the plug-in part 12 to be disengaged from the lock part 10 in the plug-in direction 36 and thus to be released from the lock part 10. The second latching mechanism 46 is forced in the direction of the latching position or locking position by an elastic spring force, in which case it moves automatically into the latching position.

The only possibility of releasing the plug-in part from the lock part 10 therefore resides in the plug-in part 12 moving relative to the lock part 10 in the plug-in direction 36, i.e. in the direction counter to a pulling direction to which the plug-in lock is subjected during use. In other words, with the plug-in lock being subjected to loading, a pulling direction acts counter to an opening direction.

Overall, the plug-in lock according to the invention thus combines the advantages of a plug-in lock, with quick connection between the plug-in part 12 and lock part 10 by a straightforward plug-in action, with the advantages of a hook-in lock, in which the force to which the lock is subjected acts counter to the opening direction. Conversely, a disadvantage of the hook-in lock, namely the operation of connecting the lock parts to one another, which is more laborious than the equivalent operation in the case of the plug-in lock, is avoided. The special feature of the plug-in lock according to the invention resides in the fact that, in order to release the plug-in part 12 from the lock part 10, the plug-in part 12 is pushed out of the lock part 10 in the plug-in direction 36. The operations of connecting and releasing the lock part 10 and plug-in part 12 thus take place by way of movement of the plug-in part relative to the lock part in the same direction, namely the plug-in direction 36.

The embodiment illustrated is given merely by way of example. In an alternative embodiment, it is also possible for the moveable latching noses to be arranged on the lock part 10 and for corresponding rigid latching hooks, which interact with the moveable latching noses, to be arranged on the plug-in part 12.

While the present invention has been particularly described, in conjunction with a specific preferred embodiment, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will embrace any such alternatives, modifications and variations as falling within the true scope and spirit of the present invention. 

1. A plug-in lock for the releasable connection of two belt ends, in particular for a climbing harness, safety belt or life belt, comprising: a lock part; and a plug-in part; wherein the lock part has a plug-in end, into which the plug-in part can be plugged, and a belt end, for fastening a belt, wherein the plug-in part has a latching tongue which, when the plug-in part is plugged into the lock part in a plug-in direction, latches with a first latching mechanism in the lock part such that the plug-in part is locked in the lock part against being pulled out of the lock part counter to the plug-in direction, and wherein the plug-in direction is oriented from the plug-in end of the lock part in the direction of the belt end of the lock part, including having the first latching mechanism is designed such that it cannot be released manually once the plug-in part and lock part have been latched in, and a second, manually releasable latching mechanism is arranged in the lock part and designed such that this second latching mechanism, in a locked state, blocks the plug-in part which has been plugged into the lock part from moving relative to the lock part in the plug-in direction and, in an unlocked state, allows the plug-in part which has been plugged into the lock part to move relative to the lock part in the plug-in direction, in which case the plug-in part can be released from the lock part by being pushed out in the plug-in direction.
 2. The plug-in lock of claim 1, wherein the first latching mechanism includes at least one latching nose arranged on the latching tongue, the latching nose pivotable about a pivot pin, wherein the latching nose is forced in the direction of a locking position by an elastic pre-stressing force and can be deflected in an elastically resilient manner out of this locking position by being pivoted about the pivot pin counter to the pre-stressing force, and wherein a rigid latching hook is designed and arranged on the lock part for each latching nose such that, once the plug-in part has been plugged into the lock part, a respective latching nose interacting with an associated latching hook makes a latching connection.
 3. The plug-in lock of claim 2, wherein the latching nose includes a respective oblique surface which rises up in the direction counter to the plug-in direction.
 4. The plug-in lock of claim 2, comprising two latching noses arranged on the plug-in part and two latching hooks are arranged on the lock part, wherein the two latching hooks are designed as respective U-shaped elevations at the plug-in end of the lock part.
 5. The plug-in lock of claim 4, including a respective leg of the U-shaped elevations having a free end, wherein the legs of the U-shaped elevations with a free end are spaced apart from one another such that a spacing between these legs of the U-shaped elevations is greater than or equal to a width of the latching tongue of the plug-in part.
 6. The plug-in lock of claim 1, including the latching tongue having an elevation running parallel to the plug-in direction and the lock part having a groove running parallel to the plug-in direction, wherein the elevation and the groove are arranged and designed such that, when the plug-in part is plugged into the lock part, the elevation engages in the groove and thus guides the plug-in part relative to the lock part.
 7. The plug-in of claim 1, including having the second latching mechanism is forced in the direction of the locking position by an elastic spring pre-stressing force.
 8. The plug-in lock of claim 7, including having the second latching mechanism arranged and designed such that it can be moved manually into the unlocked state counter to the elastic spring pre-stressing force.
 9. The plug-in lock of claim 3, comprising two latching noses arranged on the plug-in part and two latching hooks arranged on the lock part, wherein the two latching hooks are designed as respective U-shaped elevations at the plug-in end of the lock part.
 10. The plug-in lock of claim 9, including a respective leg of the U-shaped elevations having a free end, wherein the legs of the U-shaped elevations with a free end are spaced apart from one another such that a spacing between these legs of the U-shaped elevations is greater than or equal to a width of the latching tongue of the plug-in part.
 11. The plug-in lock of claim 2, including the latching tongue having an elevation running parallel to the plug-in direction and the lock part having a groove running parallel to the plug-in direction, wherein the elevation and the groove are arranged and designed such that, when the plug-in part is plugged into the lock part, the elevation engages in the groove and thus guides the plug-in part relative to the lock part.
 12. The plug-in lock of claim 2, including having the second latching mechanism forced in the direction of the locking position by an elastic spring pre-stressing force.
 13. The plug-in lock of claim 12, including having the second latching mechanism arranged and designed such that it can be moved manually into the unlocked state counter to the elastic spring pre-stressing force. 